Bullfrogs Return to RHI With Unfamiliar Result

In seven years of existence the Bullfrogs have never been short on sideshows.

And Saturday night was no exception. The news off the floor raised just as many eyebrows as did the Bullfrogs’ 5-4 loss to the San Jose Rhinos in the season opener at the Arrowhead Pond.

Five players scored for San Jose and Hugo Belanger picked up two goals for the Bullfrogs. But the helter-skelter return of Roller Hockey International after skipping the 1998 season to reorganize continued to play out at halftime when President and CEO Bernie Mullin said the league is negotiating to move its championship tournament to the Pond after failing to negotiate a suitable location in Las Vegas.

Mullin said that San Diego, which does not have an RHI franchise, is also a possibility. But Mullin said he favors the Pond, which attracted an enthusiastic announced crowd of 6,450 Saturday. Mullin said that a decision on where to play the six-team finals, which would be held in the third week of August, would be announced later this week.

“We would love to have them,” said Bullfrog President Bob Elder, who earlier this week announced on the Internet that the Bullfrogs, who won the last RHI title in 1997, would be hosting the championships. “It’s a natural. We have the best building, the fan base and so much to offer.”

The Bullfrogs, who won the title of Major League Roller Hockey last season, ruined their return to RHI by letting San Jose take a 5-1 third quarter lead. The last time the Bullfrogs lost their opener was in 1996, and Saturday night’s performance closely resembled that contest, according to forward B.J. MacPherson, who was on that team.

“We need better defense. We have to play our man more,” he said. “That’s something that can be taught. This is a different game than ice hockey. It’s more patient. We had a lot of guys who hadn’t played this sport before and we were missing some guys who have played this sport before. Come three weeks from now this team will be as different as apples and oranges.”

The Bullfrogs had five rookies in the lineup and were missing three veterans, including goaltender Rob Laurie, who was playing for the United States National Team in Finland.

Little-used goalie Rick Plester, who had played in just 10 RHI games, held up well, stopping 22 shots. But former Los Angeles Blade standout Jeff Ferguson, who holds the lowest single-season goals against average in RHI history, stopped 22 shots and gave up only one Bullfrog goal with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter before giving way to back-up Dennis Bassett in the second half.